Sofitel has signed an agreement with MKM Commercial HoldingsLLC to build the largest hotel in the Middle East, the Sofitel Dubai Wafi.

The new hotel will feature 501 luxury guestrooms, inclusive of 86 suites, ranging in size from 55-625m2, in addition to 97 studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom serviced residences to be operated on an extended-stay basis, according to Hotelier Middle East, citing a company statement.

Other features will include Asian specialty restaurant, gastro pub, a destination restaurant, lounge on the 43rd and 44th floors, a French lobby café and an all-day restaurant.

It will have a SoSpa facility, a comprehensive gymnasium, outdoor pools, private cabanas, a kids club, 10 meeting rooms and a 1,115m2 ballroom.

In April, AccorHotels launched its largest branch of its Mercure hotel brand in Dubai with the Mercure Dubai Barsha Heights Hotel Suites & Apartments in an extensive conversion and rebranding on Dubai’s Sheikh Zayed Road.

The two-phased redevelopment will oversee the refurbishment of 120 hotel rooms as well as the enhancement of additional guestrooms and facilities to meet AccorHotels’ international standards.

The full renovation is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2018.

DesignMENA recently reported on the Sofitel Tamuda Bay Resort in Morocco. You can read about its design influences here.